Helicopters - The Multi Utility Machines


The vertical lift technology of helicopters has far more utilitarian aspects to its credit than only being an effective mode of transport. In India, civil helicopters are performing transportation business, be it executive or offshore. But, with Indian skies opening up to international aviation and domestic aviation getting global, it is time we understand that helicopters are the connecting links towards its success. Helicopters can reach where nothing else can. Helicopters can perform EMS (Emergency Medical Service), Law Enforcement, Power Line Survey, Fire Fighting, SAR (Search and Rescue), ENG (Electronic News Gathering) at the same time as connecting the remotest places to the center. While effort is on to improvise our country's infrastructure by introducing metro rail, building expressways, modernizing railways, building better airports, it is time to incorporate helicopter services as well. Heliports along the expressways and railway tracks will enable timely rescue services in case of accidents.

We need to understand that there is a difference between getting there and getting there fast. There is a distinction between supporting lives and life support. In the western countries EMS is a very common service where in case of any medical requirement or accident, helicopters provide air ambulance service. Since India's telecom has become excellent with mobile network available even in the oddest of places, it is possible to have a hotline to connect to this service and make EMS helicopter available wherever required. It is a good idea for insurance companies to integrate with the management of EMS by integrating with various agencies. For example, the toll tax collected at expressways can incorporate a small amount of insurance money to insure passengers of availing EMS in case of any mishap. Credit card companies can also get their customers insured for this service. Hospitals can offer this service to the corporates who would not mind insuring their employees for EMS in case required. Options can be explored. The government needs to integrate with all the relevant sectors to make this happen. EMS is very common in the developed nations and it can be done here as well. It is definitely required to manage the second largest population of the world.

Another very important segment where vertical lift technology makes its presence almost inevitable is homeland security or law enforcement. The helicopter is often referred to as a "Force Multiplier." Studies have shown that helicopter teams have a felony arrest rate as high as six to ten times that of car teams alone. The helicopter has also been shown to support, or "back up", as many as twenty-six ground vehicles within its geographical area of responsibility. The aerial vantage gives the helicopter about 15 times the surveillance capacity of a ground unit. This vantage point plus the speed in which a helicopter can get a trained police observer over a crime scene (usually less than two minutes), provides the containment that essentially assures an arrest. A police helicopter can also be shared between public service agencies for duties such as traffic survey, fire control, EMS, environmental surveys, zoning and other public service missions. In 1948, NYPD (New York Police Department) placed its first helicopter into service, a Bell 47 D and since then there has been a significant evolution in Air Borne law enforcement. This evolution should bring in a change into India's law enforcement as well. The first step in this regard would be to look beyond that the helicopter is an expensive luxury. The helicopter has been proven by police departments around the world to be very cost effective means of increasing the efficiency of a department's existing resources, when properly utilized.

Other utility functions, which can be performed by a helicopter, are fire fighting, Electronic news gathering, power line survey, offshore oil and gas support, aerial application and air tourism. While heli tourism, offshore support and to some extent ENG has become possible in India, we still have to explore their use in India into fire fighting, power line survey and aerial application.

Helicopters play a leading role in fire fighting support. It provides observers a platform to assess a situation and provide ground units and other aircraft a clear description of the problem and how to combat it. Pinpointing location, moving equipment, finding water sources and rescuing victims from high-rise buildings can also be done much faster.

Electronic newsgathering is another major area of thrust for helicopter use these days. As our society becomes media savvy everyday, new agencies and media groups need to get news faster and crispier. Thus, helicopters are used to reach the place of incident faster and report from there on. Already, some news agencies are using helicopters for ENG but with news channels multiplying everyday, the use of helicopters can be exploited much more. The 2010 Common Wealth games being held in Delhi are a good platform to exploit the use of helicopters to their maximum potential in providing live and express coverage.

A helicopter best performs power line, pipeline, and fibre optic line patrol. Its excellent visibility and the ability to fly low and slow, or hover and land make the helicopter the best patrol aircraft. Cathode protection surveys utilizing a helicopter in the remote access areas can actually save companies money over the conventional methods. Surveys can be accomplished 4-5 times faster using a helicopter.

Helicopter Missions are endless. They respond to accidents, coordinate disaster relief, make traffic surveys, fly Air Medical missions, track suspects and stem the growth and distribution of narcotics. It is time for India to look towards these machines beyond their present image of corporate transport to an indispensable source of support towards modernizing infrastructure of India.

Mehnaz Ansari





Latest News:



Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news
News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. News Corp. says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Mark Williams, a News Corp. executive named late on Wednesday as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere, has taken over in an interim capacity, a News Corp. spokeswoman said on Thursday. News Corp exec becomes chief of Germany's Premiere (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
News Corp's chief financial officer for Europe and Asia has been named chief executive of German pay television group Premiere, following the resignation of Michael Boernicke, Premiere said on Wednesday. Premiere CEO Is Replaced by News Corp.'s Williams (Update2) (Bloomberg.com)
Sept. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Premiere AG , the German pay- television company partly owned by News Corp., said Chief Executive Officer Michael Boernicke is being replaced by a senior News Corp. executive. News Corporation to redevelop London Wapping site (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation is to redevelop its Wapping site in London, moving all its UK businesses, including News International, Harper Collins, MySpace and Dow Jones, under one roof. Tribune blames Google for damaging news story (Market Watch)
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Tribune Co. said Wednesday that the mistaken online publishing of an old news story that cratered UAL Corp.'s stock price earlier this week was because of a repeated technology failure at Google Inc. Phila. mayor to announce grim budget news (Philly.com)
The Nutter administration is expected to announce grim budget news today, which is all but certain to lead to significant spending cuts - perhaps as high as 10 percent - in some city departments, according to three sources familiar with the budget. DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news (MLB.com)
DeJesus, Royals sad at Sweeney news AIS adds news video to services (Bangkok Post - Thailand's English news)
Advanced Info Service (AIS) is introducing real-time news video clips over mobile phones, aiming to make its news content services a flagship source of non-voice revenue. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI)
Chesney nominated for 7 CMAs ... Hoffman: I'm not playing Penguin ... 'RocknRolla' No. 1 at U.K. box office ... Jessica Simpson stops song on 'GMA' ... News from United Press International.

Site: news - Google News
News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA - New York Times

TVNZ

News Analysis A Difficult Road Awaits Panetta at the CIA
New York Times, United States - 3 hours ago
The latest on the presidential transition and other political news from Washington and around the nation. Join the discussion. For Leon E. Panetta, ...
Video: Analyst Weighs in on Obama's CIA Pick AssociatedPress
News roundup: Israel presses on in Gaza; Obama tries to reassure GOP USA Today
Hotspots: Breaking news from around the world Chicago Sun-Times
Huffington Post - Telegraph.co.uk
all 2,540 news articles
Amid Sales Slump, Chico's Taps New CEO - Wall Street Journal

Amid Sales Slump, Chico's Taps New CEO
Wall Street Journal - 59 minutes ago
The announcement came as Spotlight Capital Management LLC, a New York hedge fund that has been pressing the board to name a new CEO since last March, ...
Palm Unveils New 'Nova' Software, 'Palm Pre' Phone - CNNMoney.com

San Francisco Chronicle

Palm Unveils New 'Nova' Software, 'Palm Pre' Phone
CNNMoney.com - 10 hours ago
LAS VEGAS -(Dow Jones)- Palm Inc. (PALM) on Thursday unveiled its long-awaited new software for touch screen smartphones and a new phone, as the ailing firm ...
Palm unveils new smart phone, operating system The Associated Press
CES09: Palm silences doubters with new OS and phone San Francisco Chronicle
Palm introduces the new Palm pre smartphone! Boy Genius Report
TrustedReviews - Gizmodo Australia
all 435 news articles
News of home theater tech from LG comes streaming in - CNET News

News of home theater tech from LG comes streaming in
CNET News, CA - 4 hours ago
The CNET editorial team recognizes the best new products at the show with awards in 10 categories, an overall Best of Show award, and the People's Voice ...
Video: Loaded: Happy New Year! CBS
Summary Of Wed News From International Consumer Electronics Show CNNMoney.com
New TV trends unveiled at gadget show abc7.com
IT PRO - Seeking Alpha
all 966 news articles
Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator - CNNMoney.com

BBC News

Gas Supplies To Poland Stable, No New Caps Planned - Operator
CNNMoney.com - 15 hours ago
The Polish government has also adopted new rules allowing it to restrict supplies to industrial clients if the situation worsens. (END) Dow Jones Newswires ...
Video: Ukraine is blackmailing us Putin RussiaToday
News Analysis: EU weighs action on Russia-Ukraine gas row Xinhua
Morning business news - Jan 08 RTE.ie
Independent - International Herald Tribune
all 7,000 news articles
New rules on toys could spell doom - USA Today

USA Today

New rules on toys could spell doom
USA Today - 1 hour ago
By Lea Ann Overstreet Allen and Clay Carey, USA TODAY Looming federal regulations that could force used-item retailers and thrift stores to trash many ...
More news on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act Los Angeles Times
CPSC Clarifies New Lead Law For Used Clothes, Toys WCCO
New lead law wont affect thrift stores KTUU
WBIR-TV - WCNC (subscription)
all 119 news articles
AP Top News at 11:21 pm EST - The Associated Press

ABC News

AP Top News at 11:21 pm EST
The Associated Press - 1 hour ago
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ? A key panel unanimously recommended impeachment for Gov. Rod Blagojevich on Thursday, setting up a vote that could make him the ...
Video: Key Panel Recommends Impeaching Blagojevich AssociatedPress
News Summary for January 7, 2009 NewsHour
New Senate takes shape - with 2 missing pieces Boston Globe
ABC News - Bloomberg
all 13,548 news articles
BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts - New York Times

BCS Title Game: The News Media Predicts
New York Times, United States - 20 hours ago
Florida 51, Oklahoma 17: Gators dominate special teams and stymie Sam Bradford to become the new preeminent program in college football.
US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda - Voice of America

WELT ONLINE

US Senate Democratic Leaders Outline New Agenda
Voice of America - 12 hours ago
By Deborah Tate A day after a new Democratic-led US Congress was sworn in, lawmakers are focusing on an ambitious agenda. ...
Video: Obama Pushes Economic Plan CBS
New Voices in Congress Will Change the Tone of the Democratic Majority New York Times
Reporter's Notebook: Children Everywhere on New Congress' First Day FOXNews
CBS News - Los Angeles Times
all 8,600 news articles
New TV trends: Internet movies, 3-D, power saving - The Associated Press

PC World

New TV trends: Internet movies, 3-D, power saving
The Associated Press - 7 hours ago
LAS VEGAS (AP) ? TV makers are adding sexy new features like streaming Internet movies and 3-D capabilities this year, betting that they can keep consumers ...
Samsung Gives TV Viewers the Skinny With New LED-Backlit Series TechNewsWorld
Samsung Offers New Line-Up of LED Backlit LCD HDTVs Compound Semiconductors Online (press release)
Intel Shows Broad Industry Support for Internet Experience to Your TV WELT ONLINE
all 426 news articles

MORE RESOURCES:
Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for aviation
Chertoff: Aviation still vulnerable to terror (AP via Yahoo! News)

The nation's top domestic security official said Wednesday aviation remains vulnerable to terrorist attack seven years after 9/11. Venezuela aviation agency orders flights by US airlines cut, official says (Canadian Business)

Fabiola Sanchez September 11, 2008 - 2:16 p.m. CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's aviation agency is cutting the number of flights it will allow U.S. airlines to and from the country, an aviation official said Thursday. Aviation regulator says it alone can't solve manmade problems (Calcutta News)

Concerned over encroachment of airport lands and the imminent threat it posed to aircraft movement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) - the aviation industry regulator - Thursday said it alone cannot act as a watchdog to such manmade obstacles. Chertoff: Aviation still vulnerable to terror (The Charlotte Observer)

The nation's top domestic security official said Wednesday aviation remains vulnerable to terrorist attack seven years after 9/11. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said the al-Qaida terrorist network continues to focus on the aviation system as a target. He said that the Bush administration has made strides in reducing the nation's vulnerability but that the risk remains. Chertoff ... Aviation regulator says it alone can't solve manmade problems (IANS via Yahoo! India News)

New Delhi, Sep 11 (IANS) Concerned over encroachment of airport lands and the imminent threat it posed to aircraft movement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) - the aviation industry regulator - Thursday said it alone cannot act as a watchdog to such manmade obstacles. BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul Appoints Clarke Mouncher as Global Programme Director for all Rolls-Royce ... (Aircraft Maintenance Technology)

Dallas, Texas?September 11, 2008?BBA Aviation Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) has appointed Clarke Mouncher Global Programme Director Rolls-Royce 250 for all of ERO?s RR250 activities. SpeedNews Launches First Annual Aviation Industry Finance Conference (Centre Daily Times)

SpeedNews, a Penton Media publication, announced the launch of the SpeedNews Aviation Industry Finance Conference. The event will take place June 1-3, 2009 in Chicago, IL. Aviation Week's Eighth MRO Asia Event Comes to Singapore From October 14-16 (Aircraft Maintenance Technology)

SINGAPORE -- At Aviation Week's eighth annual Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) Asia 2008 Conference & Exhibition on October 14-16, 2008, in the Singapore SUNTEC International Conference & Exhibition Centre, S. Iswaran, Senior Minister for Trade and Industry in Singapore, the largest MRO center in the Asia-Pacific region, will share perspectives on aerospace and defense (A&D). More than ... Saudi Arabia's Swicorp buys 20 per cent stake in Jordan Aviation (Khaleej Times)

Amman - Swicorp, a diversified financial services firm based in Saudi Arabia, acquired a 20-per-cent interest in Jordan Aviation for 180 million dollars, the airline's president and CEO Mohammad Khashman was quoted as saying Thursday by Jordanian daily Al Rai. Former Osagian will be inducted into Aviation Hall of Fame (Mitchell County Press-News)

Story created Sep 09, 2008 - 11:36:12 CDT. A former Osage man will be inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame at its annual banquet Sept. 27, in Greenfield. Site: aviation - Google News
China gives more support for sagging aviation sector - Reuters

China gives more support for sagging aviation sector
Reuters - 5 hours ago
SHANGHAI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - China has again sought to lift the country's aviation industry, hit hard by the global financial crisis, with the government ...
China's struggling airlines get tax break The Associated Press
Airlines get 3-year grace on fuel surcharge tax Shanghai Daily
176b yuan loan pledge for planemaker The Standard
Transport and Logistics News
all 63 news articles
TSA catches heat over private aviation proposals - Atlanta Journal Constitution

Aviation Week

TSA catches heat over private aviation proposals
Atlanta Journal Constitution,  USA - 12 hours ago
About 200 pilots, directors of corporate flight departments and representatives of the business aviation community from across the Southeast packed a ...
Graves finds aviation rule proposal excessive St. Joseph News-Press
Air Security Could Involve Private Jets New York Times
Homeland Security proposes to tighten Private Aviation Security Private Jet Daily
The Wichita Eagle - Aero-News Network
all 36 news articles
Aviation industry strives to find alternative fuels - SmartBrief

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Aviation industry strives to find alternative fuels
SmartBrief, DC - 11 hours ago
The aviation industry wants to find an alternative to jet fuel after it got burned last summer. Continental Airlines is testing fuel made from the tropical ...
Jet Biofuel May Be Commercially Viable Soon, Point Carbon Says Bloomberg
Flying on Vegetables New York Times
Biofuels gain momentum in aviation industry Washington Energy Services
BBC News - Los Angeles Times
all 260 news articles
Army aviation officials seek to improve communications - FCW.com

Army aviation officials seek to improve communications
FCW.com, VA - 11 hours ago
By Doug Beizer Army aviation commanders are developing ways to use technology to share up-to-date information about the problems faced by deployed troops, ...
Army aviation working harder, smarter Army Public Affairs
all 2 news articles
Experts: Crosswinds a factor in Denver air crash - The Associated Press

The Associated Press

Experts: Crosswinds a factor in Denver air crash
The Associated Press - Jan 7, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP) ? It was very windy when a Continental Airlines jet was destroyed while trying to take off in Denver last month, leading aviation safety ...
Safety experts cite crosswinds in Denver air crash KDBC
Safety experts cite crosswinds in Denver crash WZTV
Crosswinds Likely Factor In Denver Crash KPHO Phoenix
all 300 news articles
Art and aviation - Reno News & Review

Art and aviation
Reno News & Review, NV - 19 hours ago
By Brad Bynum Count Guido Roberto Deiro was a pilot and businessman ?heavily involved with aviation matters in Nevada,? when he met Michael Heizer, ...
Southwest: Pilot on paid leave pending alcohol investigation - USA Today

NBC4i.com

Southwest: Pilot on paid leave pending alcohol investigation
USA Today - 10 hours ago
"The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident Tuesday at Port Columbus in which two passengers accused a Southwest Airlines pilot of ...
Southwest pilot called in sick after passengers accused him of ... Gadling
Travelers say they smelled alcohol, confronted pilot Columbus Dispatch
Southwest removes pilot suspected of drinking WFAA
Aero-News Network - NBC4i.com
all 7 news articles
Aviation firm buys airport manager - Poughkeepsie Journal

Aviation firm buys airport manager
Poughkeepsie Journal, NY - 21 hours ago
Aviation Facilities Company, Inc. announced Wednesday it purchased AvPORTS, which manages day-to-day operations at seven US airports, including Stewart ...
Albany Int'l Airport's management co. acquired Bizjournals.com
Some change, and stability, at airport Albany Times Union
AFCO - Branson Airport developer and minority owner Branson Courier
Mid-Hudson News - Bizjournals.com
all 16 news articles
Aviation Biofuels: More Hype Than Hope? - Wired News

Aviation Biofuels: More Hype Than Hope?
Wired News - 9 hours ago
By Dave Demerjian January 08, 2009 | 3:00:00 PMCategories: Biofuel The commercial aviation industry, hammered by rising fuel costs and increased pressure to ...
Aviation biofuels: hope or hype? Crikey
all 2 news articles
Family, Friends Honor Life of Jett Travolta - E! Online

The Age

Family, Friends Honor Life of Jett Travolta
E! Online - 4 hours ago
Members of the press crowded outside the gates of the Jumbolair Aviation Estates, where residents can pilot their private planes practically up to their ...
Video: Medicine: Scientology's Stand CBS
Travolta plans private memorial for son in Florida The Associated Press
Private service for Jett Travolta at family's Florida home CBC.ca
Ocala - Orlando Sentinel
all 2,857 news articles
Home | Site Map | Resource Links